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secretary kerry meeting with his counterparts, sergei lavrov, today. i think that the administration is trying to give putin a way out, what has been described as an off ramp, if you will. it's not clear that russia is going to agree with that. but that is one of the options . and it comes as congress is preparing to take up the issue of sanctions. the house prepared to take up that issue tomorrow. initially it seemed as though they weren't going to take up that issue until next week, but i think there is a real sense of urgency to get something done, to keep the pressure on russia to pull out of ukraine. so you're going to see that debate start to take place tomorrow on the hill. but certainly this is a volatile situation, so i think these conversations are going to continue to go on at the highest levels here at the white house and throughout the administration as they tip to try to deescalate the situation. >> obviously we want to deescalate the situation. but i think russia knows that we're only going to go so far militaril militarily. we won't mee
secretary kerry meeting with his counterparts, sergei lavrov, today. i think that the administration is trying to give putin a way out, what has been described as an off ramp, if you will. it's not clear that russia is going to agree with that. but that is one of the options . and it comes as congress is preparing to take up the issue of sanctions. the house prepared to take up that issue tomorrow. initially it seemed as though they weren't going to take up that issue until next week, but i...
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kerry med with sergey lavrov. afterwards, he spoke of hope for de-escalation of tension. >> russia made a choice. and we have clearly stated that we believe it is the wrong choice, that is the choice to move troops into crimea. russia can now choose to de-escalate this situation. and we are committed to working with russia. and together with our friends and allies in an effort to provide a way for this entire situation to find the road to de-escalation. the united states is ready to work with all parties to make that happen and to make it happen as soon as possible. >> russian president vladimir putin has also spoken to angela merkel today. if diplomacy fails, the u.s. and its allies could put in sanctions against russia in a matter of days. howard fineman and michael mcfall. he's now a fellow at the hoover institution and an msnbc analyst. mr. ambassador, it's great to the united states is ready to work with all parties to make that happen and to make it happen as soon as possible. >> russian president vladimir p
kerry med with sergey lavrov. afterwards, he spoke of hope for de-escalation of tension. >> russia made a choice. and we have clearly stated that we believe it is the wrong choice, that is the choice to move troops into crimea. russia can now choose to de-escalate this situation. and we are committed to working with russia. and together with our friends and allies in an effort to provide a way for this entire situation to find the road to de-escalation. the united states is ready to work...
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now, russian foreign minister sergei lavrov is unlikely to see it that way. he's already decided the russian troops occupiesing crimea. he's described the soldiers as being a self-defense force over which russia has no influence. the attention today will be on a meeting of eu leaders in brussels. they have been very reluctant to back stiff sanctions against moscow. they have a lot more to lose than the u.s. they come up with a package of economic support, but have been very wary of sanctions. moscow, of course, will be watching that closely. so will washington. whether or not the latest developments from crimea concentrates minds, we'll have to see, tamron. >>> we want to take you back to the developing news out of the maryland where the cpac conference is under way. mark murray is standing by. he is in washington. mark, are you there? >> hey, tamron. >> let's talk about first of after senator mitch mcconnell. we know he will be in a big political battle in the midterm, but he walked in entered the room with a reichel in hand handing it to tom coburn and actu
now, russian foreign minister sergei lavrov is unlikely to see it that way. he's already decided the russian troops occupiesing crimea. he's described the soldiers as being a self-defense force over which russia has no influence. the attention today will be on a meeting of eu leaders in brussels. they have been very reluctant to back stiff sanctions against moscow. they have a lot more to lose than the u.s. they come up with a package of economic support, but have been very wary of sanctions....
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whether sergey lavrov can give any room on that is far from clear, because he's already said that the troops who are in control down there, who have taken control in crimea, are not russians. he describes them as a self-defense force over which russia has no control. focus also today on the big e.u. meeting. european leaders in brussels, to see if they'll come forward with package, any threat of sanctions, which they've been reluctant to do so far but, of course, this development in crimea could concentrate their minds somewhat. kristen? >> all right, ian williams, thank you for that report. >>> this morning, the white house announced new measures designed to pressure russian and crimean officials. jim maceda is live in moscow with more. we're learning the white house is announcing new visa restrictions and new sanctions. how is moscow reacting this morning, jim? >> reporter: we haven't had a reaction yet, kristen, from moscow on that specifically. but just to back up a bit. this diplomatic fleurry of the last 48 hours has been about creating a united front with the united states and
whether sergey lavrov can give any room on that is far from clear, because he's already said that the troops who are in control down there, who have taken control in crimea, are not russians. he describes them as a self-defense force over which russia has no control. focus also today on the big e.u. meeting. european leaders in brussels, to see if they'll come forward with package, any threat of sanctions, which they've been reluctant to do so far but, of course, this development in crimea...
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secretary of state meeting with count counterpart sergey lavrov. this is the first time since the current crisis escalated that they've had a face-to-face to talk exit strategy. the ukrainian and russian governments meeting for the very first time, talking on a cabinet level today. and russian defense official is discussing ukraine later today at nato in brussels. so, there is definitely a change. whether this change is sustained is another question. back to you be. >> on the international stage the only reality that putin seems to be willing to acquiesce to is the economic reality of what this is doing in russia to their market. what's putin's next move? >> reporter: well, you're right. putin -- if there's one man who could make or break a deal, it's vladimir putin and it's obviously unclear what his next move is. washington and berlin are pushing this idea of sending international observers to monitor any rights abuses against russians or pro-russians on crimea, allowing hopefully some kind of pullback by those russian forces or pro-russian force
secretary of state meeting with count counterpart sergey lavrov. this is the first time since the current crisis escalated that they've had a face-to-face to talk exit strategy. the ukrainian and russian governments meeting for the very first time, talking on a cabinet level today. and russian defense official is discussing ukraine later today at nato in brussels. so, there is definitely a change. whether this change is sustained is another question. back to you be. >> on the...
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. >> as you know, john kerry meeting with sergei lavrov in rome and they have yet to agree with getting russians and ukrainian acting government together. if they are not going to meet, it's unclear how this could ever be mediated. >> that's right. that's really a big disappoint here in kiev, where the foreign minister, the new foreign minister of ukraine, having traveled with john kerry, had high hopes of being able to sit down with his russian counterpart and start to talk the matters through. without talking about it, without beginning say discussion, it's very difficult to see how they can go anyway towards finding a solution and of course we still see sergei lavrov speaking almost a different language. he's still denying that those soldiers occupying crimea are russian soldiers insisting they are an independent defense force acting beyond the reach of russia. a very difficult situation and one which is being watched anxiously here in ukraine, which has denounced today's move, today's announcement of a referendum as illegal. as of course has the e.u. but all eyes on today's meeting
. >> as you know, john kerry meeting with sergei lavrov in rome and they have yet to agree with getting russians and ukrainian acting government together. if they are not going to meet, it's unclear how this could ever be mediated. >> that's right. that's really a big disappoint here in kiev, where the foreign minister, the new foreign minister of ukraine, having traveled with john kerry, had high hopes of being able to sit down with his russian counterpart and start to talk the...
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secretary john kerry's meetling this hour with his russian counterpart, sergey lavrov, earlier today, they had a brief discussion in which secretary kerry urged direct talks between russia and the ukraine. according to a senior state department official. >> united states of america, the russian federation, and the united kingdom of great britain reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of the ukraine. there are very clear legal obligations that are at risk in this, and we're going to talk about those this morning. >> andrea, as i said, is traveling with secretary kerry and filed this report from paris today. >> chris, here in paris, john kerry has a very tough diplomatic game. he's playing all the angles. he's trying, first of all, to rally the allies, trying to get them to hang tough against vladimir putin. here in europe, where, of course, they all dependent on russia for their energy, for less expensive natural gas. so some, including germany, are a little more reluctant to be tough with vladimi
secretary john kerry's meetling this hour with his russian counterpart, sergey lavrov, earlier today, they had a brief discussion in which secretary kerry urged direct talks between russia and the ukraine. according to a senior state department official. >> united states of america, the russian federation, and the united kingdom of great britain reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of the ukraine....
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. >> i want to start with the meeting between secretary kerry and the russian counterpart, sergey lavrov. we also had the phone call the president had with angela merkel, but let me start with kerry and lavrov. what do they say to each other? what's critical right now? >> first of all, the fact they are meeting is a good sign. they have developed a cordial relationship. i've been in many meetings with them and the fact they are talking leads open the possibility of this off-ramp that you mentioned and that the president and the administration is trying to provide for putin. i don't think there will be any break ththroughs today, i think it's early for that, but you will hear about the consequences, economic consequences of continuing this and foreign minister lavrov, just the justification for it all. resolution will come later in this crisis. if it comes at all. >> meantime, simultaneously, you have secretary kerry talking to a lot, frankly, of foreign counterparts. here's some of the criticism that we've been hearing. this one from congressman mike rogers. >> right now, putin has set t
. >> i want to start with the meeting between secretary kerry and the russian counterpart, sergey lavrov. we also had the phone call the president had with angela merkel, but let me start with kerry and lavrov. what do they say to each other? what's critical right now? >> first of all, the fact they are meeting is a good sign. they have developed a cordial relationship. i've been in many meetings with them and the fact they are talking leads open the possibility of this off-ramp...
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sergey lavrov defended russia's action by saying they're defending the fundamental right to light of -- right to life of the ethnic russians in those areas. is there any evidence that that is the case? >> i would not say that the lawlessness that does exist in some major cities is targeted toward russians or russian speakers. it's very difficult to distinguish who is russian and who is not. people generally here think of themselves as ukrainians and they can hold multiple identities, both as russians and as ukrainians at the same time. the relationship is so close. so i don't think it's targeted in that way. but there is clearly a spike of disorder and lawlessness that everyone is suffering under. >> nicolai petro, thank you so much for joining me. >> sure. >> joining me now is michael mcfaul, just stepped down last week as u.s. ambassador to russia. he's professor of political science at stanford university. ambassador, what is the next step here? it seems that this has escalated tremendously quickly. what do you see as being the next step either from the u.s., nato and the e.u. or
sergey lavrov defended russia's action by saying they're defending the fundamental right to light of -- right to life of the ethnic russians in those areas. is there any evidence that that is the case? >> i would not say that the lawlessness that does exist in some major cities is targeted toward russians or russian speakers. it's very difficult to distinguish who is russian and who is not. people generally here think of themselves as ukrainians and they can hold multiple identities, both...
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. >> russia's foreign minister, sergey lavrov, did not attend the morning meeting, but he is expected to meet face to face with secretary kerry later today. before heading to paris, kerry stopped in kiev where he unveiled a billion-dollar aid package for ukraine and met with interim leaders, including the acting foreign minister who travelled to paris for the u.n. meeting. more on that from nbc's chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell. andrea? >> reporter: what kerry is trying to do by bringing him here to paris is elevate him, give him legitimacy, and help him stand up to russia, and help persuade his colleagues they should avoid any military confrontation that would give putin a pretext to move further into ukraine. and frankly, that is what u.s. officials think is really putin's end game. they believe that he does want to take over ukraine, but this is part of his grand vision to re-create what was lost with the end of the soviet union, to re-create a russian federation that is really an empire. they don't know how to deter him from this, and that, of course, what pres
. >> russia's foreign minister, sergey lavrov, did not attend the morning meeting, but he is expected to meet face to face with secretary kerry later today. before heading to paris, kerry stopped in kiev where he unveiled a billion-dollar aid package for ukraine and met with interim leaders, including the acting foreign minister who travelled to paris for the u.n. meeting. more on that from nbc's chief foreign affairs correspondent andrea mitchell. andrea? >> reporter: what kerry is...
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secretary of state john kerry met today in paris with russian foreign minister sergei lavrov but could not convince him to meet directly with the acting ukrainian foreign minister. meanwhile a senior u.n. envoy was threatened at gunpoint by someone in a prorussian crowd that demanded he leave the area. on the ground the situation remained extremely tense as russian forces continued to occupy ukrainian military installations, and maintain their blockade of ukrainian military ships in crimea. in the eastern part of the country meanwhile, scuffles broke out between pro russian demonstrators and those who support a united ukraine. back in the united states, conservatives had a message of their own, as complicated and worrying as the situation in ukraine may be, it is also a perfect justification for everything they already believed. >> this is a symptom of a greater problem, it really in many ways started with benghazi. when our consulate was overrun and our first ambassador was killed in 30 something years in the line of duty, not one person's been held accountable. you're sending the wro
secretary of state john kerry met today in paris with russian foreign minister sergei lavrov but could not convince him to meet directly with the acting ukrainian foreign minister. meanwhile a senior u.n. envoy was threatened at gunpoint by someone in a prorussian crowd that demanded he leave the area. on the ground the situation remained extremely tense as russian forces continued to occupy ukrainian military installations, and maintain their blockade of ukrainian military ships in crimea. in...
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lavrov. they have a long relationship from the time he served with you on the foreign relations committee. having said that diplomacy seems to be headed toward let's give vladimir putin a road map. there's been no ethnic russian who's been harmed in crimea. at the same time there were several people on this program yesterday who suggested, including the former u.s. ambassador that crimea is lost. do you believe that, and is that the price that will have to be paid if there's going to be an off-ramp and this isn't doesn't to escalate into something that becomes more bloody? >> we should be providing that off-ramp, but we need to give vladimir putin and russia the incentive to get on that off-ramp and de-escalate that situation. he'll continue to play this game, push us and push us, and then he'll come back and push again. so we have to act, he has to pay a price for this. he has to realize if he keeps moving forward, he'll pay a successively higher price. >> i appreciate you taking the time to
lavrov. they have a long relationship from the time he served with you on the foreign relations committee. having said that diplomacy seems to be headed toward let's give vladimir putin a road map. there's been no ethnic russian who's been harmed in crimea. at the same time there were several people on this program yesterday who suggested, including the former u.s. ambassador that crimea is lost. do you believe that, and is that the price that will have to be paid if there's going to be an...
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we're waiting on remarks from secretary of state john kerry and potential sergey lavrov. we'll keep you updated. they're trying to find an exit to this crisis. we have heard from secretary kerry once. here he was earlier laying the foundation before the talks began. >> the united states of america, the russian federation, and the united kingdom of great britain and north ireland reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of ukraine. weapons will not be used against ukraine. >> congress is stepping in, and russian president vladimir putin, here was speaker boehner this morning on the subject. >> steps that have not been taken over the last three or four years frankly allowed putin to believe that he could do what he's doing without -- without any reaction from us. but given where we are, we're here in a bipartisan way trying to irk with with the president. >> john boehner urging more action and the u.s. is not alone in offering up assistance. the european union is now offering a massive a
we're waiting on remarks from secretary of state john kerry and potential sergey lavrov. we'll keep you updated. they're trying to find an exit to this crisis. we have heard from secretary kerry once. here he was earlier laying the foundation before the talks began. >> the united states of america, the russian federation, and the united kingdom of great britain and north ireland reaffirm their obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or...
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secretary of state john kerry met today in paris with russian foreign minister sergei lavrov but could not convince lavrov to meet directly the acting ukrainian foreign minister. meanwhile, in crimea, a senior u.n. envoy was threatened at gunpoint by someone in a pro-russian crowd that demanded he leave the region. the shaken diplomat q
secretary of state john kerry met today in paris with russian foreign minister sergei lavrov but could not convince lavrov to meet directly the acting ukrainian foreign minister. meanwhile, in crimea, a senior u.n. envoy was threatened at gunpoint by someone in a pro-russian crowd that demanded he leave the region. the shaken diplomat q
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you will see sergei lavrov but doesn't seem they are backing down. >> it does seem, the ukrainian government and military, russian military out of uniform but there, are trying not to shoot at each other to be blunt. >> i think that's true. i think there were some shots fired today apparently and there are ship movements and worrying facts on the ground. so far it has not been a violent confrontation. kerry was praising ukrainian leaders for showing restraint because the provocation politically and russia could move farther into the rest of the ukraine. so he is urging them to pull themselves together into an interim government that doesn't give putin any pretext that he can point to to try to take control of an entire country. >> let's talk about the president, our president. president obama seems to be allowing the russians do have an interest in ukraine in the sense there's a history of the russian people living there, russian speaking people being there, actually russian natives as well. they've got the fleet down there in the black sea. they seem -- he seems to be saying, you do have a
you will see sergei lavrov but doesn't seem they are backing down. >> it does seem, the ukrainian government and military, russian military out of uniform but there, are trying not to shoot at each other to be blunt. >> i think that's true. i think there were some shots fired today apparently and there are ship movements and worrying facts on the ground. so far it has not been a violent confrontation. kerry was praising ukrainian leaders for showing restraint because the provocation...
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lavrov in rome for a second day of talks aimed at defusing the crisis. kerry announced new sanction, a visa ban on russian and ukrainian officials deemed complicit in threatening ukraine's territorial integrity. in conjunction, president obama issued an executive order allowing further sanction on those individuals including asset freezes. but 16,000 russian troops remain stationed in crimea and a diplomatic solution continues to elude all sides. joining me from the white house is deputy national security advisor for strategic communications and speechwriting, ben rhodes. ben, thanks for taking the time to do this. i know it's a very busy day at the white house. let me just first get, you know, the white house position on this crimean referendum. do you see this as russian strong-arming? >> well, look, alex, we have've been very clear that you cannot make decisions about parts or regions of ukraine without the government of ukraine at the table. nor can you do it in a time when the people in crimea are under coercion from russian forces. so this is not a
lavrov in rome for a second day of talks aimed at defusing the crisis. kerry announced new sanction, a visa ban on russian and ukrainian officials deemed complicit in threatening ukraine's territorial integrity. in conjunction, president obama issued an executive order allowing further sanction on those individuals including asset freezes. but 16,000 russian troops remain stationed in crimea and a diplomatic solution continues to elude all sides. joining me from the white house is deputy...
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john kerry just met with his russian counterpart, sergey lavrov. secretary kerry said he urged lavrov to engage in direct talks with ukraine. meantime, parallel talks between nato and russia are being held in brussels, belgium. secretary kerry also met in paris today with u.s. allies. that meeting included ukraine's new interim foreign minister, who was one of the protesters in kiev. he actually traveled to paris with kerry after kerry's high profile visit to that country's capital yesterday. the meeting concluded with issuing of the statements saying in part, "united states, united kingdom, and ukraine agreed direct talks between ukraine and russia facilitated as needed by members of the international community are crucial to resolving the current situation." meantime, russian troops remain in firm control of ukraine's crimea peninsula, amid lingering fears they will not stop there. jim maceda joins us live from moscow with more on the diplomatic efforts under way. jim, what's the latest? >> reporter: hi, there, tamron, well, that meeting you refe
john kerry just met with his russian counterpart, sergey lavrov. secretary kerry said he urged lavrov to engage in direct talks with ukraine. meantime, parallel talks between nato and russia are being held in brussels, belgium. secretary kerry also met in paris today with u.s. allies. that meeting included ukraine's new interim foreign minister, who was one of the protesters in kiev. he actually traveled to paris with kerry after kerry's high profile visit to that country's capital yesterday....
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this morning, foreign minister sergey lavrov insisted his government is acting in its own defense. here's nbc's jim maceda who has more from moscow. >> reporter: putin now has his hand on the russian crown jewel. crimea gives putin an essential warm water port, and it counters in his mind the nightmare scenario. that's what he sees as an ultranationalist government suddenly cancelling russia's lease on the black see base and kiev taking control of crimea and then joining nato down the line, bringing the enemy, in his mind, right back to russia's doorstep. so vladimir putin has made that calculus, and it's now unclear just what the west can do about it. chuck, back to you. >> thank you, jim. right now, according to folks i've talked to, the u.s. has three options, none of them involve the u.s. military. the first, the u.s. could move along with european allies to officially suspend or kick russia out of the g8. that would be symbolic. second, the administration could pursue its own sanctions that target russian banks as well as international sanctions, targeting russian oil companie
this morning, foreign minister sergey lavrov insisted his government is acting in its own defense. here's nbc's jim maceda who has more from moscow. >> reporter: putin now has his hand on the russian crown jewel. crimea gives putin an essential warm water port, and it counters in his mind the nightmare scenario. that's what he sees as an ultranationalist government suddenly cancelling russia's lease on the black see base and kiev taking control of crimea and then joining nato down the...
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secretary kerry saying today that he spoke with russia's foreign minister, sergei lavrov, earlier today, again telling russia not to engage. so, that is what we have been hearing all along. president obama will undoubtedly come out with some stern words. what he will say specifically, we'll have to wait and see, but of course, earlier today, the former president of ukraine, yanukovych, has not been deposed he still leads himself as the leader of ukraine, despite the fact that many do not see the situation in that light. so president obama will come out. i expect him to have strong words from russia. clearly, this situation and russia entering that space only increasing tensions between the east and the west, between the united states and russia. u.s. officials have said all week long that this is not a return to the cold war, but alex there is no doubt that if russia has, in fact, engaged and entered ukraine, that that will increase these tensions, increase what has been a very frosty relationship between the united states and russia as of late. alex? >> you know, kristen, we spoke with
secretary kerry saying today that he spoke with russia's foreign minister, sergei lavrov, earlier today, again telling russia not to engage. so, that is what we have been hearing all along. president obama will undoubtedly come out with some stern words. what he will say specifically, we'll have to wait and see, but of course, earlier today, the former president of ukraine, yanukovych, has not been deposed he still leads himself as the leader of ukraine, despite the fact that many do not see...
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we start with foreign minister, sergey lavrov, claiming that ukraine power military this morning attacked the pro russian interior ministry in crimea, wounding several people presumably ethnic russians, and despite there being no confirmation of that -- no evidence of that. the alleged threat to russians inside ukraine just triggered this quick escalation of events. russia has used this, of course, many times to justify an invasion. and within hours, the leader of ethnic russians in crimea called on president putin to send in russian forces for protection, of course. and putin responded, as you say, very quickly, responding to the use -- requesting the use of force, and getting it from his rubber stamp parliament, and all that, alex, just within hours. now, it doesn't mean that putin will be sending in more troops and tanks into crimea. there are already thousands there, all part of russia's black sea fleet, and over the past 48 hours, they have been there securing airports already, government buildings, telecom towers. but it does spike the tension much higher. now, as you say, there is
we start with foreign minister, sergey lavrov, claiming that ukraine power military this morning attacked the pro russian interior ministry in crimea, wounding several people presumably ethnic russians, and despite there being no confirmation of that -- no evidence of that. the alleged threat to russians inside ukraine just triggered this quick escalation of events. russia has used this, of course, many times to justify an invasion. and within hours, the leader of ethnic russians in crimea...